Author:Jane Clarke,Garry Parsons
David and Lucy have got a new dog from the Rescue Centre, but they don't know what his name is. What they do know is that he's ace at digging and he's got a good nose for fossilized bones. In this humorous holiday adventure story, set on the Isle of Wight, David and Lucy are determined to find out if the bones their dog digs up are real dinosaur bones. Imagine if they've discovered a new kind of dinosaur! A dramatic storm and encounter with a local beachcomber eventually lead to the discovery of a complete dinosaur skeleton in the rock cliffs -- and the right name fortheir keen-nosed dog.
An exciting adventure story. The pace is lively and funny and the black and white drawings on every page illustrate the action perfectly. This is an ideal story for a new reader graduating from picture books to paperbacks
—— Booktrusted NewsIt makes a lively, light, amusing story for new readers in the reliable Corgi Pups series
—— The School LibrarianWith illustrations on every page, large print and lots of dialogue, children will devour this mystery story
—— JuniorCute illustrations and a simple text make this story about responsible pet ownership a fun read
—— My Books MagFew books are laugh-out-loud funny; fewer still are the children's books that have you stifling titters on the train . . . Uncle is a brilliantly sustained exercise in nonsense, played with the straightest of faces
—— Financial TimesWould make a great gift for literary eccentrics of any age
—— The Los Angeles TimesI think Uncle stuck with me because of its combination of excess, gadgetry and eccentricity - all of which are modes of being I have attempted to emulate in my adult life. I blame J.P. Martin
—— Will SelfYou ask any class "Who's heard of Alice in Wonderland" and up goes a forest of hands. Uncle is on the same level and should be more widely read and enjoyed
—— The Junior BookshelfThe story is remarkably free from sentimentality and anthropomorphism, and the author does not talk down to the children who will form her audience. Like Rudyard Kipling (to whose folk tale The Elephant’s Child this is surely a tribute), Campbell-Johnston shows a deep knowledge of African culture, with lush metaphors and precise descriptions of locations, smells and weather.
—— Rebecca Foster , We Love This BookThis beautifully written story is a new departure which draws on her (Rachel Campbell-Johnston's) original training as a zoologist. The Child's Elephant sings with a formidable talent, imagination and passion.
This powerful story is as huge as the African savannah it describes.
—— CarouselThe Child’s Elephant is a captivating and deeply affecting book, exceptional both for the in-the-field research that has gone into writing it, and for the writing itself which is mesmerising.
—— Caroline Sanderson , Books for KeepsRachel Campbell-Johnson lyrically conveys much about life in contemporary Africa: its beauty, its communities and many of the issues surrounding its poverty...This is an unforgettable, beautiful and moving novel about the powerful bond between an elephant and a child.
—— Book TrustA compelling story which has its roots in reality, it is a real page-turner
—— Parents in TouchThe extraordinary story of the incredible friendship between a boy and an elephant, and their survival against all the odds.
—— GransnetShows a deep knowledge of African culture, with lush metaphors and precise descriptions of locations, smells and weather.
—— Rebecca Foster , We Love This BookBeautifully conveys life in a traditional African village . . . the sights, smells, tastes and colours . . . Reading this left me wanting to find out more about both the place and the background to this story.
—— The Book BagThis is an extraordinary book
—— The Book BagThis is an amazing story . . . Definitely for Michael Morpurgo fans and also Gill Lewis and Lauren St John fans. I think almost anyone should read it.
—— We Sat DownThis is a novel that will stay with me forever. I recommend The Child’s Elephant 100%!
—— Little M , We Sat DownMy children's book of the year for 8-11s
—— Amanda Craig , New StatesmanA must-read for both the old and young, it's a triumph in children's literature that you will never forget
—— Cirencester LifePulls no punches . . . There’s a moving, almost spiritual ending
—— Independent on SundayA compelling story which has its roots in reality, it is a real page-turner as the reader is anxious to find out what happens to the pair.
—— Parents in Touch